Coastal Dance and Music Academy - Dance Music Theater Voice

Coastal Dance and Music Academy

1012 E. Grand Avenue, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420

Phone: 805-489-5678

Kathy Schultz, Owner and Director

Kathy holds a Master's of Education and a teaching credential from Cal Poly. She has taught in a variety of capacities including the public school setting as a dance specialist for Children’s Creative Project, Bellevue Santa Fe Charter School, and Ocean View Elementary School, and as a guest teacher for the ACE Camps summer program. Kathy studied, taught, and choreographed at the Academy of Dance in San Luis Obispo for 15 years. While at the Academy of Dance she also directed performance troupes and served as the executive director of the Civic Ballet of San Luis Obispo. She was one of several choreographers featured in an international tour of The People’s Republic of China. Kathy was able to fulfill a dream when she opened her own studio, Coastal Dance, in Shell Beach in 2004. Due to the incredibly positive reaction, the fledgling studio was soon too small for it’s growing number of students. Therefore, in February of 2008, with the help of family and dear friends, Kathy expanded her growing studio to a beautiful new facility in Arroyo Grande, CA, adding music, voice, theater, and fitness to her program. Coastal Dance has now become Coastal Dance and Music Academy (CDMA).

Kathy is also currently on staff at Hancock College in Santa Maria, California, as a contributing choreographer. Her work has been featured in the dance department’s productions of Dance Spectrum and Dimensions in Dance. She currently teaches jazz, tap, and ballet to all ages at Coastal Dance and Music Academy, and is the Director of the Performance Troupe. Her family-oriented, up-beat and polished performance troupe shows have received rave reviews wherever they have performed. Kathy’s loving, nurturing, and positive teaching style continues to be the guiding force behind Coastal Dance and Music Academy.

Tara Behnke, Owner and Assistant Director

Tara has taken her dance training very seriously since the ripe old age of three. As a young artist, she began her study of classical ballet at the Academy of Dance in San Luis Obispo. Her training immediately broadened to include jazz, tap, lyrical, musical theater, contemporary, and hip-hop. She was the top scholarship winner at the Dance in Action Convention in 1998, and has trained at West Side Ballet, Zeal Studio, and The Edge in Los Angeles, as well as Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria. Tara's intense schedule of training provided the foundation for a myriad of dance experiences including national and international tours. A member of The Academy of Dance performance troupes for eleven years, Tara toured with the professional level San Luis Jazz Dancers to Spain in 1997, China in 1999, and Cuba in 2000. Also a member of the Civic Ballet for seven years, Tara was one of the company’s principal dancers. Tara's roles over the years have included Arabian Queen, Snow Queen, Rose Bud, Wind-Up Doll, Soldier Captain, and Clara in The Nutcracker. She was the Blue Fairy in Sleeping Beauty, and was featured as a soloist in Wild Heart. Tara received accolades for her performance as Maria in the Civic Ballet’s production of West Side Story. Tara also danced to rave reviews as Nancy in Since I Saw Her Standing There, a Beatles ballet.

Tara was a member of The Academy of Dance teaching staff for two years. During that time she was the director of two of the Academy’s performing groups. In 2004, Tara was accepted into All Things Contemporary Dance Company. She danced with them before joining Coastal Dance as a guest teacher in 2005. Tara was a contributing choreographer for Coastal Dance’s Summer Intensive Program in 2007, 2008 and 2009, Coastal Chamber Ballet’s production of Babes In Toyland in 2008 and 2009, and Morro Bay High School’s 2009 Dance Intensive. Tara is currently attending Cal Poly where she will receive her BS in Child Development and minor in Psychology. Tara is the Assistant Director and Owner of Coastal Dance and Music Academy as well as an instructor of jazz, contemporary, and ballet, the Director of All That Jazz and Ain’t Misbehavin’, and CDMA’s web designer.

Molly McKiernan, Artistic Director Coastal Chamber Ballet

Molly's first ballet class was at the age of 5 at her neighbor Mary Cowden Snyder's studio garage. It wasn't long after, that she realized dance was going to be a part of her world for a long time. Her dance training continued at American Dance and then over to Academy of Dance in San Luis Obispo where she spent many years studying as a young dancer.

When her family moved to Austin, Texas Molly auditioned and was accepted to the prestigious Ballet Austin Academy, which provided her with exquisite formal dance training and three seasons performing in the Nutcracker.

A few years later Molly returned to San Luis Obispo and rejoined the Academy of Dance. There she trained, performed, and danced several lead roles over many seasons with their ballet company, The Civic Ballet, and then went on to teach, choreograph and become Artistic Director of the well received Sleeping Beauty Ballet for two years.

Throughout Molly’s extensive career with dance she has had the opportunity to teach and perform all around the United States and internationally. She has trained with such companies as Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Austin Ballet Theatre and has choreographed and performed for International venues including China, Spain and Cuba.

Coastal Dance and Music Academy is Molly’s home now. Molly takes great pride in nurturing and developing Coastal Chamber Ballet into a caliber of excellence and beauty for her dancers and the community. Molly is the Artistic Director of Coastal Chamber Ballet as well as an instructor of jazz, lyrical, and ballet.

Marissa Mattos, Dance Instructor

Marissa has been dancing since the age of three. She started in the discipline of ballet and branched out to study all types of dance including tap, jazz, ballet, modern, and hip hop. Marissa studied and competed nationally at Yoko’s dance and performing arts in Fremont, CA where she earned top honors, and cash scholarships, for numerous routines over the years. In 2002, at the age of 14, Marissa scored top routine in an entire dance competition (Dance USA) of over 2000 routines (groups, solos, duos etc. all ages) for her tap solo “play it cool“. Marissa has also earned scholarships from multiple dance conventions including Tremaine, L.A underground, and Urban Jamm. Marissa has danced with the Oakland ballet, and San Francisco ballet in different pieces throughout her teenage years. She has worked with many award winning dancers and choreographers over the years including Yoko Young, Nick Lazzarini, Eddie Garcia, Patrice Barakat, Tap dogs, and Savion Glover. Marissa moved to the central coast to study for her bachelor’s degree in corporate financial management. Marissa is a tap instructor at Coastal Dance and Music Academy.

Linda Ruberto, Dance Instructor

Linda, born and raised in Minnesota, began her professional dance career with The Saint Paul City Ballet. She also danced with the Zoe Sealy Jazz Dance Company, Andehassey Ballet, and the Minnesota Dance Theater. Linda has 20 years experience as a Dance Instructor and Performing Arts Studio Director, in addition to raising four children with her husband. Linda says "So here I am at CDMA looking forward to being involved in working with aspiring professionals and to quote a goal of the academy, 'nourishing each student’s artistic spirit.'” Linda is a preschool dance instructor at Coastal Dance and Music Academy.

Beverly Dahlke-Smith, Music Instructor

Beverly is a talented music industry woodwind professional with many years of performing and recording experience. She has worked with such music industry heavyweights as Les Brown, Elton John, The LA Philharmonic, The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Tom Petty, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and Michael Bolton, to name just a few. In addition to many live performances and tours, she has performed on recordings for many features films, television shows, radio and television commercials, and music CDs. Beverly has the distinction of being the only female instrumentalist ever to be a member of the Les Brown Band of Renown. In addition, she was also the first female instrumentalist ever hired to be a part of the Harry James Band and also the first woman to be a full time member of a studio band for a TV talk show - the Joan Rivers Show. Beverly is a keyboard and woodwind instructor at Coastal Dance and Music Academy.

Heather MacLeod, Theater Instructor

Heather MacLeod studied musical theatre and acting professionally at PCPA and in Boston University's acting graduate program. She also had the pleasure of working with many Hollywood acting troops, including starting one of her own, focusing on performing with viewpoints. After working in Los Angeles she moved back to the central coast to put down some roots. Although she still works with some independent film makers her passion still stands with the stage. Some of her favorite roles include Juliet, of Romeo and Juliet; Roxanne, of Cyrano de Bergerac; and Aphrodite, of Metamorphosis. Heather has been teaching the theater's youth for several years and performing in local theatre. Heather has a devotion for theatre, remembering that the word 'theater' means seeing place; it is the place where people come to see the truth about life and the social situation, perhaps the only place. Heather is a theater instructor at Coastal Dance and Music Academy.

Suzanne Eisworth, Office Manager

Suzanne graduated from Cal Poly in 1991 with a B.S. in Physical Education and a minor in Psychology. While in recent years she has devoted herself to raising her family, she has also worked in administration for Cannon Associates, Staff Builders Home Health Care and Wells Fargo Bank. Suzanne lives in Shell Beach with her husband, Ron, and their three children. When not working, Suzanne is passionate about physical fitness, home projects, and spending time with and supporting her family. Suzanne is the office manager at Coastal Dance and Music Academy.

Lacey Morgan, Musical Theater Instructor

A Southern California native, Lacey joins us after living the past three years in Japan teaching children in an elite school. Lacey began acting on stage at the age of 6. In high school, she was President of the Drama Club for two years and she attended the IMTA (International Model and Talent Association) in Hollywood in 2000, taking home a Performance Excellence award for Daytime Drama acting. Lacey has a Bachelor's Degree in Theatre Arts Production from Old Dominion University in Virginia and not only graduated Summa Cum Laude, but was also, the Department Graduate of the Year. Lacey loves all forms of theatre and is very excited to bring her stage and camera acting knowledge to CDMA. Lacey is a musical theater and camera acting instructor at Coastal Dance and Music Academy.

Casey McDonald, Music Instructor

Minnesota native, Casey McDonald, began his lifetime love of music at the age of ten, banging on a shiny new snare drum in his parents shed. He has since performed at the World Series and the Super Bowl, played on street corners and in concert halls, birthday parties and bars, and added guitar and harmonica to his repertoire. Casey currently performs his solo acoustic works around the Central Coast and hosts a Singer-Songwriter evening Thursdays in Morro Bay. He has been teaching students of all ages since 2003 and loves to share to the joy of music with others. Casey is a guitar instructor at Coastal Dance and Music Academy.

Heather Whitlock, Dance/Acrobatic Instructor

Heather began tap dancing at the age of three, and immediately fell in love. She began performing in troupes and competitions by the age 5. Heather broadened her studies to include; tap, jazz, ballet, gymnastics, modern and hip hop at Clovis Academy of Gymnastics and Dance, where she also began teaching at 16. Dancing gave Heather the opportunity to travel to many states for competitions and conventions over the years. In addition, she was able to take workshops with tap legends Al Gilbert, Savion Glover, and the late Gregory Hines. In Clovis she was also very active in Center Stage Productions, where she appeared in Annie, The King and I, and Anything Goes. Upon meeting her husband she relocated here to the Central Coast where she now is raising her three children. She was thrilled to be a guest dancer in the 2009 Coastal Chamber Ballet's production of Babes in Toyland, and is looking forward to sharing her love for dance and the stage with everyone at CDMA. Heather is a tap, street jazz, preschool dance and acrobatics instructor at Coastal Dance and Music Academy.

Ben Reyes, Dance Instructor

Ben has been involved in dance at Allan Hancock College since 1983, first as a student and dancer, and later as a choreographer and currently an instructor on campus. He has participated in AHC Dance Ensemble since its beginnings, performed and choreographed for numerous dance concerts, and taught for the Youth Dance Company in the AHC College for Kids program. He has been a guest choreographer and dancer for Cal Poly's Orchesis dance productions 1995-2001. He has also been an instructor for Class Act Dance studio in Paso Robles and a guest choreographer for high schools in and out of the area. Ben is a jazz and hip hop instructor at Coastal Dance and Music Academy.

Mandy Corbett, Dance Instructor

Tony Ramirez, Dance Instructor

Russell Phillips, Music Instructor

Russell is a self-taught guitarist who has been playing for over 40 years for family, church events, and in folk, country, rock and roll, and Vietnamese wedding bands. He attended Harvard College and holds a law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan. His family of four children and wife of 23 years moved to Pismo Beach in 2007, and thoroughly enjoy the spirit and artistry of the Central Coast. Russell is a guitar instructor at Coastal Dance and Music Academy.

Tamara Shibata, Voice Instructor

Tamara began singing and performing at the age of five. Her love for music began after watching countless music rehearsals and concerts performed by her parents. This passion has since grown through singing in church and school choirs, solo performances, and ensemble work. She started choirs ranging from preschool all the way through high school and adult ensembles, including the groups Resound and Simple Offering. Tamara loves to teach and share her gift of music. She has performed in such venues as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York City and sang in the American Choral Directors Association’s national conventions in 2003 and 2005. She also went on a recording tour to Prague in the summer of 2007. She studied vocal performance at Cuesta Community College and California Baptist University. Tamara is a voice instructor at Coastal Dance and Music Academy.